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Back to Zarauz

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Voykit pocket guide · Spain

Zarauz

Spend a day or a night in Zarauz for the long beach and surf; 30‑min train from San Sebastián, 15‑min drive.

Zarauz is a small coastal town in Gipuzkoa with a 2.5 km beach, surf competitions and nearby parks. It is reachable in 30 min by Euskotren from San Sebastián, making it suitable for a half‑day beach stop or an overnight surf‑focused stay.

MadridA CoruñaA FonsagradaAdraAgostAinsaAlaróAlbaceteAlbarracínAlburquerqueAlcalá de HenaresAlcalá de los GazulesAlcalá la RealAlcobendasZarauz200 kmdots: other places in this guide
Sketch, not to navigate by: shapes follow this guide’s areas and places, not official boundaries. North is up.
Country
Spain
Best months
Jun–Sep
Avoid
Dec–Feb (cold, limited restaurant hours)
Stay
1 night

Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.

Essentials

Currency
EUR
Money
Currency is the euro (EUR, €). Cards and contactless work almost everywhere, including tapas bars and taxis in the cities.
Daily spend
Budget €30–45 excl. bed (check) · Mid €45–70 excl. bed (check) (estimate; check)
SIM and data
EU and EEA plans roam at home prices; UK and other plans may charge — check before you land.
Emergency
Police 091 · Fire and ambulance 062 · General emergency 112
Plugs
Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin plugs; UK and US plugs need an adapter.
Tipping
Bar or café: Leave small change or nothing.; Restaurant: Round up or 5–10% for good service; service is not usually added.; Taxi: Round up to the next euro.; Hotel porter: €1–2 a bag.; Guide on a free walking tour: €10–15 a person is the expected payment.
Water
Tap water is safe across the mainland; it tastes of chlorine in some coastal areas. Ask for 'agua del grifo' in restaurants — by law since 2025 they must offer it free (check local application).
Toilets
Few public toilets; use bars and cafés (buy a coffee). Stations and shopping centres have free or cheap toilets.

What things cost

ItemPrice
Coffee€1.20–2.00
Pintxo€1.00–2.50
Beach chair rental (hour)€2–4

Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.

Get in

By air

EAS · San Sebastián Airport
Train to Zarauz takes ~30 min; bus also available.

Typical fares

San Sebastián → Zarauz train
about €6, 30 min (check)
Taxi within Zarauz (5 km)
≈ €12–15
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card

Get around

The town centre and beach are walkable; local bus runs hourly from San Sebastián; bike rentals are common.

See and do

Known for

  • long beach and surf
  • Pagoeta park
  • pintxos restaurants
  • Karlos Arguiñano restaurant

Day trips

WhereHowTime
GetariaBus from Zarauz station, about 15 min≈30 min total
MundakaBus to San Sebastián (30 min) then Euskotren to Mundaka (20 min)≈1 h
San SebastiánEuskotren train, 30 min≈45 min

Sleep

Hotel Karlos Arguiñano
Beachfront hotel with restaurant; suitable for a night stay.

Phrase card

EnglishSay or show
Excuse me / SorryBarkatubarkatu
Thank youEskerrik askoeskerrik asko
How much is it?Zenbat da?zenbat da?
Where is the beach?Non dago hondartza?non dago hondartza?

Etiquette, safety and scams

Etiquette

  • Greeting: Two kisses on the cheek (right then left) between friends and when introduced socially; handshake in business; avoid: Being stiff — Spaniards stand close and touch arms
  • Meal times: Late lunch and dinner; long sobremesa (chat after eating); avoid: Rushing to leave or asking for the bill with the last bite
  • Noise: Join in the lively conversation; avoid: Reading loud voices as anger
  • Siesta hours: Keep noise down in residential buildings 15:00–17:00 and after 23:00; avoid: Phone calls to people at lunch time
  • Dress: Smart casual in cities; locals rarely wear shorts in Madrid in town; avoid: Swimwear or bare torsos away from the beach
  • Regional pride: Ask about local dishes and festivals; avoid: Assuming Catalan or Basque are dialects of Spanish

Scams and watch-outs

  • Surf can be strong in winter; check conditions before entering water.
  • Some restaurants close early in the off‑season; verify opening hours.

Zarauz is a safe coastal town; usual precautions apply – keep an eye on surf conditions in winter and watch belongings on the beach.

One and two days

No timed day plan for Zarauz yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.

  • long beach and surf
  • Pagoeta park
  • pintxos restaurants
  • Karlos Arguiñano restaurant

Sources

Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.

Pocket card

Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.

Zarauz

Helbide honetara, mesedez

To this address, please

My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)

  • Police091
  • Fire and ambulance062
  • General emergency112

US consulate in Bilbao; other embassies in Madrid.

Voykit · checked 2026-09

Printed from Voykit (/zarauz). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.